Hontiveros bats for higher tobacco excise tax to fund universal healthcare
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, calls for an increase in tobacco excise tax that could be used to fund universal healthcare and anti-smoking campaigns. Speaking at the media launch of a study by the Action for Economic Reform and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on Nov. 11, 2025, Hontiveros said that attempts to lower tobacco taxes amid economic challenges would only worsen the problem.
VIDEO BY ALLEN LIMOS
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00:00This study affirms that stricter implementation of existing regulations and stronger policies, not tax cuts, are crucial in combating illicit tobacco trade.
00:14In fact, lowering taxes, especially at this point, when our economy is struggling and government needs revenues, may not be a good idea.
00:26Habang binabaybay ko po ang study, di ko matanggap na habang papataas ang smoking prevalence sa bansa, siya rin namang pagbaba ng excise tax revenues mula sa tobacco products.
00:41Obvious naman siguro sa atin kung ano ang nangyayari dito.
00:46Tobacco smugglers are reaping huge profits at the expense of the health of Filipinos and the healthcare system of the Philippines.
00:57Sinusunog nila ang buhay at kalusugan ng ating bayan at ng ating mga kababayan kapalit ang salapi.
01:05Buhay ang pinambabayan sa bawat sigarilyo pinagbibili sa mga sari-sari store ng mas mababa sa legal floor price.
01:17Ito'y buhay na mas malusog at mas matagal sana kung hindi ginawang mas abot kaya pa ang tobacco products dahil sa smuggling.
01:27The missing revenues from excise taxes because of the illicit tobacco trade are also compensated for by the lives of our countrymen and women.
01:40These taxes could have prevented people from starting smoking through anti-smoking campaigns.
01:47They could have been used to provide access to essential medicines.
01:52They could have been given to a patient to cover the cost of his or her hospitalization.
01:57Hindi ito ang pinangarap natin ng ating itulang at ipasa ang universal healthcare law.
02:06These lost revenues bring us farther away from the realization of universal healthcare.
02:13Gaya ng sinabi po, matagal yun na po akong kaisa sa mga health reforms at maaasahan ninyo na mananatili akong kaisa ninyo sa paghahanap ng suluson sa lumalaganap na problema ng illicit tobacco trade.
02:31As chairperson, again, again, of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography,
02:36I commit to studying the proposals put forward by the AER in its paper, including the enactment of new policies that will strengthen regulations against illicit tobacco
02:51and prevent these harmful products from ever coming to our shores.
02:57We must remember that this fight is not just about protecting our revenues.
03:03It is about protecting our people.
03:06Hindi natin pwedeng hayaang mabawi ng mga smuggler at ng tobacco industry
03:12ang mga tagumpay na pinaghirapan ng ating mga health advocates at ng sambayanang Pilipino.
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